Collapsible support for umbrellas, shoes, and the like



Dec. 12, 1950 D. EISENBERG 2,533,725

COLLAPSIBLE SUPPORT FOR UMBRELLAS, SHOES, AND THE LIKE INVENTOR Patented Dec. 12, 1950 COLLAPSIBLE SUPPORT FOR UMBRELLAS, SHOES, AND THE LIKE I I Daniel Eisenberg, Plainfield, J. Application September 24, 1946, Serial No. 699,022

1 Claim.

This invention relates to collapsible article carriers, it being an object thereof to provide a device of the character described which is particularly well fitted to serve as a depository for umbrellas, canes, rubbers and shoes.

It is another object of my invention to provide a collapsible article carrier which, when expanded for use, can be hung from a closet door or wall without losing its shape, no matter how irregularly'or heavily it may be loaded.

It is afurther object of my invention to provide a collapsible article carrier which, although of relatively small size, is capable of holding a large number of articles.

It is an additional-object ofmy inventionto provide a collapsible article carrier which comprises relatively'few, lightand simple parts, is of durable construction and can be manufactured economically. Y I

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangement efparts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of this invention:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my novel collapsible article carrier as it appears in use;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 2--2 in Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional views taken substantially along the lines 33 and 4-4 respectively in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of said carrier as it appears when partially collapsed.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, l0 denotes a collapsible article carrier embodying my invention and comprising an open-topped bag l2 of a suitable fibrous material such, for example, as canvas. Said bag is vertically elongated, narrow and shallow so that it can hold substantially erect canes, umbrellas and like articles placed therein. Desirably, the bag is of rectangular transverse cross-section and therefore constitutes a bottom wall l4, side walls i6, i8, a front wall 20, a rear wall 22, and a mouth 24.

The fabric bottom wall I4 is stiffened by the inclusion of a rectangular panel 26 of rigid material, like plywood or metal, which is secured in place or merely laid on the bottom of the bag as illustrated. Said panel serves to distribute the the bag is adapted to receive, and to prevent the tips thereof from piercing the bottom wall, The panel also functions to weight down the bottom of the bag when th carrier is expanded, but empty, and to cause the bottom wall to assum and hold its proper shape in use. V

Means also is included to stiffen the mouth 24, said means'being of such construction that all four edges of the mouth are rendered rigid. Said means is in the form of a hollow frame 28 which is bent from a relatively heavy metal strip. Said frame is of rectangular shape and issecured in a fabric tube 30 prepared by turning back the edges of the side, front and rear walls of the bag adjacent the mouth thereof and fastening said edges by stitching 32 to the walls below the mouth of the bag. 7

It is to be particularly noted that said reinforcing frame extends substantially all the way aroundthe mouth of the bag, this construction functioning to cause. the bag to hold its shape no matter how irregularly or heavily the bag may be loaded.

One end 34 of the metal strip from which the frame is made is located adjacent the back center of the mouth. The other end 36 of the frame extends upwardly near said end 34 thereby to provide a suspension means 38 which includes an aperture 40. Said aperture is adapted to receive a hook, nail or the like in a closet Wall or door.

Bellows pockets 42, 44, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54, 56 are secured to the side and front walls I6, 18, 20 of the bag. Each of said pockets is fashioned from a single piece of fabric whose lateral edges are attached by rows of stitching 58 to the bag. Said rows of stitching are spaced apart a distance considerably less than the width of the fabric and the excess material thus provided is formed into equal inturned folds 60 at both sides of the pocket. A row of stitching 62 closes off the bottom of the pocket of the inturned folds, to the bag. Said pockets are dimensioned to receive articles such as rubbers and shoes.

It will be appreciated that by having the bag rectangular, although shallow, sufficient space is provided to dispose one pair of pockets on each of the sid walls so. that, together with the two pairs of pockets on the front wall, a rather large number of shoes can be accommodated on the slender bag.

Because the bag is entirely flexible, except at its top and bottom, it can be folded in almost any manner into a small compass. However, I prefer to form creases or fold lines in certain selected parts of the various walls so that the bag can be neatly and quickly folded and will have a pleasing appearance when open. Accordingly, the bag has gusset creases 63 running centrally down both side walls 16, 18. These creases, of course, include vertical central creases in the bellows pockets on the side walls, the particular formation of said pockets lending itself well to central creasing, inasmuch, as will be apparent from inspection of Fig. 4, said pockets consist of but a single layer of fabric at the center where the creases 63 are located. The gusset creases terminate short of the bottom wall and mouth and are connected to the corners of the-bag by inclined creases 64. A transverse crease 66 runs entirely around the bag at its middle.

All of the aforesaid creases are illustrated by dot-and-dash lines in the several figures.

To fold the bag, the side walls are collapsed inwardly along the creases 63. Then the mouth and bottom wall of the bag are folded onto the front or back Wall, the bag at such time being in the condition illustrated in Fig. 5. Now the bag is folded about the transverse crease 66 so that the bottom wall is on top of the open mouth. It Will be observed that this last fold is facilitated by the disposition of the several pockets above and below the crease 66, leaving a clear space on the fabric to receive said crease.

A collapsible article carrier of the type described, adapted to carry articles of the classes comprising canes, umbrellas, etc. and'shoes', rubbers, etc.; is highly useful for steamer rooms, cabins, summer homes, camps, trailers, guest rooms and hotels.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device which achieves the several objects of my invention and is well adapted to meetthe conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein described or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

In a collapsible article carrier comprising an open-topped, rectangular bag of uniform hori-' zontal cross-section and upwardly opening collapsible bellows pockets: a rigid flat rectangular panel at the bottom of the bag, and reinforcing means for the open mouth of the bag, said lastnamed means comprising a hollow rectangular metal frame extending around the entire open mouth of the bag, said panel and reinforcing means cooperating to maintain the rectangular shape of the bag, said reinforcing means having an integral suspension means for the bag, said suspension means comprising an upstanding tongue in one piece with the metal frame and having an opening therein.

DANIEL EISENBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Num er Name Date 322,987 Smith et al July 28, 1885 980,098 Hansen Dec. 27, 1910 1,043,590 Hauck Nov. 5, 1912 1,136,138 Izett Apr. 20, 1915 1,224,568 Ream May 1, 1917 1,555,058 Hogue Sept. 29, 1925 1,700,274 Smye Jan. 29, 1929 2,159,279 Lipowsky et *al May 23, 1939 2,244,887 Manley June 10, 1941 2,359,372 Leader Oct. 3, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date Switzerland 1 Aug. 16, 1935 

